1 Samuel 15:1 kjv
Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
1 Samuel 15:1 nkjv
Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD.
1 Samuel 15:1 niv
Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD.
1 Samuel 15:1 esv
And Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD.
1 Samuel 15:1 nlt
One day Samuel said to Saul, "It was the LORD who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the LORD!
1 Samuel 15 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:16 | "Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man... he shall anoint him" | God chooses Saul and reveals it to Samuel. |
| 1 Sam 10:1 | "Then Samuel took a flask of oil... and anointed him..." | Samuel's act of anointing Saul as king. |
| 1 Sam 12:13 | "And now behold, the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked..." | Reinforces Saul as God's chosen king. |
| Deut 4:30 | "...you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice." | Call to obedience to God's voice. |
| Deut 6:3 | "Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them..." | General command to obey God's laws. |
| Deut 8:20 | "...you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God." | Warning about disobedience. |
| Deut 11:27 | "a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD..." | Obedience leads to blessings. |
| Deut 27:10 | "You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God..." | Explicit command to listen and obey. |
| Psa 95:7-8 | "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." | Urges immediate and open-hearted obedience. |
| Jer 7:23 | "...Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people..." | Covenant basis for obedience. |
| Jer 11:4 | "...Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I commanded..." | Covenant terms demand obedience. |
| 1 Sam 13:13-14 | "You have done foolishly... now your kingdom will not continue..." | Saul's previous disobedience and its consequence. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry." | Samuel's later condemnation of Saul's rebellion. |
| 1 Sam 15:26 | "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD..." | Saul's ultimate rejection by the LORD. |
| Heb 3:7-8 | "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts...'" | New Testament warning against disobedience. |
| Heb 12:25 | "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking..." | Warns against rejecting God's speaking. |
| Ex 17:8-16 | Account of Amalek's attack and God's promise to blot them out. | Establishes historical animosity and divine decree against Amalek. |
| Deut 25:17-19 | Command to remember and blot out the memory of Amalek. | Precedent for God's coming command to Saul. |
| Psa 2:10-12 | "Now therefore, O kings, be wise... Serve the LORD with fear..." | Call for rulers to submit to God's authority. |
| Prov 16:12 | "It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for a throne is established by righteousness." | Kingship depends on adherence to righteousness. |
| Rom 6:16 | "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey..." | Emphasizes the nature of obedience (or disobedience). |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | True faith involves active obedience. |
1 Samuel 15 verses
1 Samuel 15 1 Meaning
This verse marks a pivotal divine commission to King Saul, delivered through the prophet Samuel. It reminds Saul that his kingship was not a human appointment but a direct act of the LORD, who "sent" Samuel to anoint him as king over "His people, Israel." Therefore, a fundamental demand is placed upon Saul: he must now "listen to the voice of the words of the LORD." This establishes an immediate, non-negotiable expectation of absolute obedience to God's upcoming command, setting the stage for a critical test of his fidelity as Israel's ruler.
1 Samuel 15 1 Context
1 Samuel 15:1 initiates a crucial divine directive following Saul's kingship being established (chapters 8-12). Earlier, in 1 Samuel 13, Saul had already shown impulsive disobedience by offering a burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel, for which he was told his kingdom would not endure. This new command serves as a critical test of his heart's true disposition towards God's authority. The historical context for the specific command, revealed in the following verses (1 Sam 15:2-3), is the long-standing enmity with the Amalekites. This nomadic tribe had attacked Israel from the rear immediately after the Exodus from Egypt (Ex 17:8-16) and later harassed them. God had decreed their utter destruction, a command known as herem or cherem (a ban, meaning consecrated to God by destruction), which was often a sign of divine judgment and covenant loyalty. By calling on Saul to fulfill this ancient decree, the LORD presents him with an opportunity to fully demonstrate his submission to divine instruction as the chosen king over Israel. The verse's core emphasis lies in the unconditional requirement of obedience to the LORD from one who was divinely appointed.
1 Samuel 15 1 Word analysis
- Samuel: The last of the Judges, a powerful prophet, and God's direct intermediary for anointing kings. His role signifies God's direct communication and authority in Israel's leadership.
- also said: Indicates that this instruction is part of Samuel's ongoing prophetic ministry to Saul, emphasizing a continuity in divine interaction, not a singular, isolated message.
- to Saul: Specifically directed to the king, highlighting his personal responsibility before God for the upcoming action.
- The LORD: (Hebrew: YHWH, Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel. This designation stresses the ultimate divine source and authority behind Samuel's message. It underlines that this is not human advice, but a divine command.
- sent me: (Hebrew: shalach) Emphasizes Samuel's role as a divine messenger. He does not speak on his own authority but delivers God's specific instruction, giving the command supreme weight.
- to anoint you king: (Hebrew: mashach, "to smear," "to consecrate by pouring oil"). This verb signifies the divine act of selecting and setting apart Saul for his royal office. It conveys both divine legitimization and the accompanying expectation of faithful stewardship. It's a reminder of Saul's foundational identity as God's chosen servant.
- over his people, over Israel: Reaffirms that Israel is God's possession, not Saul's. Saul is a steward, a shepherd under the ultimate Shepherd. His rule is not autonomous but is accountable to the true sovereign, the LORD. This phrase challenges any kingly notions of absolute, human-centered authority typical of surrounding nations.
- now therefore: A logical connector, often signaling a conclusion or consequence drawn from the preceding statement. Because God has so sovereignly acted in Saul's life, there is now an immediate and vital demand placed upon him.
- listen to the voice of the words: (Hebrew: shama` bəqōl divrē) This is a powerful phrase for "obey completely." It implies not merely hearing audibly but hearkening to, attending to, and acting upon the spoken divine word. "Voice of the words" emphasizes the direct, authoritative nature of God's communication, often likened to the deep, thunderous voice of God revealing His will. It means more than understanding; it means active submission.
- of the LORD: Reiterates the divine origin and supreme authority of the command, reinforcing the absolute necessity for Saul's obedience.
1 Samuel 15 1 Bonus section
The repeated emphasis on "the LORD" (YHWH) throughout the verse subtly highlights the polemic against the understanding of kingship prevalent in the ancient Near East. In surrounding cultures, kings were often considered divine or semi-divine, wielding absolute power. In Israel, however, the king was explicitly subservient to the covenant God. This verse serves as a direct reminder that Saul is merely God's agent, and his authority derives entirely from, and remains utterly accountable to, YHWH. His reign is conditional on his obedience, a truth many kings (even biblical ones) found difficult to grasp. The "listening to the voice" of the LORD signifies the direct channel of revelation, distinguishing the God of Israel from silent idols or fickle deities of other nations. God speaks clearly, and requires an unequivocal response from His chosen ones.
1 Samuel 15 1 Commentary
1 Samuel 15:1 acts as the preamble to one of the most critical turning points in Saul's reign, laying bare the true test of kingship in Israel. It underscores that unlike kings of other nations who ruled by conquest or heredity, the Israelite king was divinely chosen and served under God's ultimate authority. Samuel's opening words deliberately recount God's sovereign initiative in appointing Saul, thus placing the subsequent command within the undeniable framework of divine appointment and expectation. The core of the verse is the unambiguous directive: "listen to the voice of the words of the LORD." This is a profound demand for unreserved obedience, particularly from one in leadership. It implicitly challenges any temptation to self-rule, partial obedience, or adapting God's command to human expediency. For Saul, this was not merely one instruction among many, but a defining moment that would demonstrate whether he was truly a king after God's heart, or simply a ruler following his own understanding. His failure here would seal his destiny, illustrating that privilege of leadership comes with immense responsibility to adhere perfectly to the divine word.